Easter Weekend in Punta Gorda

Easter week has always been a meaningful time for me...and I usually seek out services no matter where I am to observe Good Friday and celebrate Easter Sunday.  

One  of the truly special Easter Week services this coming weekend in Punta Gorda is Good Friday's Living Stations of the Cross at Sacred Heart Church  at 7:30 PM.  St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte also will perform the Living Stations at 5 PM (in Spanish) and 7 PM (in English).   If you have never attended a dramatic representation like this, consider attending this moving service.   I went to one such reenactment at a church in Yorba Linda, California last year --- with parishioners dressed as Roman , citizens of Jerusalem, and an actor representing Christ.  It was incredibly stirring, so I was elated to find out that we would be able to attend a similar service in our own hometown.  

An extraordinary way to celebrate Easter Sunday is a sunrise service...especially one near water.  Here are some of the sunrise and other more unique Easter Sunday services we've identified in the Punta Gorda area:

Sacred Heart Catholic Church has a sunrise service at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda  at 7 a.m. Easter morning. Bring chairs, bug spray, and come early prepared to walk.

Burnt Store Presbyterian church includes a sunrise service as part of its Easter worship sevices  at 6:30 a.m. Sunday, during which the BSPC Players present a staged reading of “Four Who Were There.” Traditional worship service will be held at 8:15 and 11 a.m. featuring handbells, brass ensemble, organ and choir. A contemporary interpretation of the Easter story will be celebrated during a 9:40 a.m.  service, Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Road, Punta Gorda. 941-639-0001.

Liberty Community Church actually sponsors an Easter Sunrise Service on the water -- on Charlotte Harbor to be precise: 6:30 a.m.-7:30 a.m. Sunday — King Fisher Cruise launching from Fishermen’s Village in Punta Gorda. There is no charge, but limited seating; public is invited. Paula Wilson, 941-429-0776.

Faith Lutheran Church of Punta Gorda (4005 Palm Drive corner of Rio Villa and Palm Drive- West of Windmill Village and Rio Villa Lakes and East of Buttonwood Village) will have a sunrise service at 7:00 a. m. and a traditional service at 9:30 a.m.   A Breakfast will be served between the services beginning at 7:45 a.m- 9:00 a.m. Menu will be: Egg Casseroles, Egg Sausage Casserole, Fresh Fruit, Homemade Coffee Cakes- includes coffee, tea and water.  Tickets  will be sold at the door also- $6.00 per person.  Call the church if you plan to attend the breakfast @ 639-6309.

First Baptist Church, 451 Gill St. in Punta Gorda will have  a sunrise sevice at 7:30 a.m. Easter Sunday followed by a breakfast and egg hunt at 8:15.

Lighthouse Baptist Church, 14251 Chancellor Blvd., in Port Charlotte  is celebrating  an outdoor sunrise service on Easter Sunday at 7:30 a.m.

Peace River Baptist Church, 478 Berry St., Punta Gorda: at 7 p.m. daily, April 9-11: The Sanctuary Choir and Drama Team present the Easter musical/drama, David T. Clydesdale’s “How Great Thou Art,” under the direction of Jim Reuter . 941-637-6768. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte will have an outside service preceded by the Rev. Mark Knowles, pastor, carrying a cross to the Palm Garden.  Service will be followed by a breakfast with eggs, bacon and all the trimmings for a donation.  941-625-5045. 

The Pilgrim Church of Port Charlotte will hold a Sunrise Service at the Nav-A-Gator Restaurant on the Peace River, 9700 S.W. Riverview Circle (off Kings Highway, north of Port Charlotte), at 7 a.m. April 12. All are welcome; bring a chair. Rain site: Riverside RV Park on Kings Highway, 1 mile north of the Nav-A-Gator. 941-629-2633 or www.pilgrimonline.org. 

First Alliance Church’s Easter Services will be held  at 9 and 10:45 a.m, Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda. All are welcome. (941) 639-2222.